The BC Rehab Gert Vorsteher Memorial Awards

The awards, which are accompanied by a $5,000 bursary, are given annually to individuals who have shown remarkable determination towards pursuing their rehabilitation goals and have, in turn, regained their personal independence. BC Rehab hosted the 2016 event in the GF Strong gymnasium and presented seven awards to recipients from across British Columbia.

The award program is designed to recognize individuals who have been faced with life-changing injuries and have demonstrated courage and perseverance in regaining their personal independence. Gert Vorsteher lived in Kamloops, BC, where he worked as a carpenter. A 1962 workplace accident left Mr. Vorsteher a paraplegic and he was sent to GF Strong for rehabilitation. Upon his death, Mr. Vorsteher left a financial gift to BC Rehab and requested that the donation be used to fund an annual awards program. To date, $350,000 has been awarded to 70 individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated incredible perseverance and determination in their journey to personal independence. Please contact the BC Rehab office for more information 604-737-6383.

2009 - 2017 GVA Winners& their places of residence

2017 recipients

Bonnie Zhu, Richmond , Richmond

James Mcleod , Cherryville

James Ryan , Chilliwack

Kris Harrison , Vancouver

Lindsay O’Connell, Deroche

Shannon Elmer, Vancouver

William Mc Creight, Kamloops

2016 recipients

Omar Al- Azawi , Vancouver

Peggy Assinck , Vancouver

Wanda Huynh , Vancouver

Christine Jorgensen , Vancouver

Pierce Paxton Pineau , Abbotsford

Cole Rutter , Maple Ridge

Patricia Peters , D'arcy

Alanna Jones , Surrey

2015 recipients

Aleksa Cakalj , North Vancouver

Daniel Hunt, Vancouver

Riley Inge , Vancouver

Kulwinder Jagpal , Surrey

Mike Shaw , Coldstream

Heman Ly , Vancouver

Trent Seymour, Prince George

2014 recipients

Josh Darmawan, Surrey

Michele Grant, Whitehorse

Amit Sharma, Surrey

Kyle Jacques, Vancouver

Thomas Martin, Penticton

Lisa Chan, Vancouver

Norine Chubb, Vancouver

Adel Othman, Vancouver

2013 recipients

Moses Chan, Vancouver

Angela Choi, Vancouver

Sandrine Ekoko, Vancouver

San Hau, Vancouver

Mustafa Hasan, Burnaby

Sean Lynn, Vancouver

Richard Morrison, Surrey

Mujtaba Saloojee, Gibsons

2012 recipients

Greg Erickson, Surrey

Janie Rae Gaudet, Aldergrove

Kyle Andrew Gieni, Vancouver

Byron Green, Vancouver

Joel Libin, Vancouver

Matthew Loring, Salmon Arm

Chelsea Stamp-Vincent, New Westminster

Norma Vincent, Abbotsford

2011 recipients

Neil Broderick, Cawston

John Daziel, Powell River

Dee Fisher, Vancouver

Daniel LeBlanc (posthumous acknowledgment), Vancouver

David Parke, North Vancouver

Tessa Schmidt, Vancouver

Jeff Scott, Whistler

Amanda Yan, Burnaby

2010 recipients

Greg Cahoon, Aldergrove

Peter Chisholm, North Vancouver

Kent Goulet, Vancouver

Brian Hickey, North Vancouver

Olga Kalamkarova, Vancouver

John Kamp, Port Moody

Klaus Nielsen, Burnaby

Alvin Schulz, Port Alberni

2009 recipients

Ryan Schweizer, Vancouver

Kaspar Shouldice, Victoria

D.J. Lam, Vancouver

Dustin Paul, Vancouver

Jason Costa, Vancouver

Simon Paradis, Halfmoon Bay

Jennifer Watterston, Errington

Carla Boyarchuk, Kelowna, Vancouver

Applications

BC Rehab has reopened the application process for the 2018 nominations.